Trappemann
Active Member
Seems to me that we will lose more ground this session.
Why aren't we rallying to show our lawmakers our opposition?
just curious.
Why aren't we rallying to show our lawmakers our opposition?
just curious.
The General Assembly will have at least a pro forma floor session on Monday, but there are almost never hearings scheduled that day.
As far as "rallies" are concerned:
I'll be brutally honest here, from the MSRPA perspective:
- There is no space. Lawyers Mall is closed for the ongoing steam pipe project. Bladen street is closed in one direction for contractor parking/equipment storage related to the steam pipe project.
- The bill hearings are being staggered, likely coordinated on purpose to dilute our ability to be there. The D's know that most of our side of the fence work and won't or can't take off multiple days off to testify while the Bloomberg groups will astro-turf to get people there anytime, any way.
- It would be used as nothing more than a rallying cry for the D's - claiming either race issues or simply labeling us as extremists (heard in testimony on HB4) or terrorists (heard from one of the "Man Moms" in the hallway outside of House Judiciary while the "opposition" testified).
- I need people testifying and talking face to face with their Delegates and Senators / office staff of the same, not standing in the cold. Especially given the physical limitations present in Annapolis right now.
- I need to focus my completely voluntary time to preparing testimony for my organization to fight these bills.
- I realize there are others on these fora that want to use "Alinsky" tactics - that is their 1A-protected right, but I won't participate or condone such actions.
No offense but you say that like it is a bad thing.
Nope, just stating it is not a tactic I will use.No offense but you say that like it is a bad thing.
Nope, just stating it is not a tactic I will use.
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The General Assembly will have at least a pro forma floor session on Monday, but there are almost never hearings scheduled that day.
I'll be brutally honest here, from the MSRPA perspective:
- I need people testifying and talking face to face with their Delegates and Senators / office staff of the same, not standing in the cold. Especially given the physical limitations present in Annapolis right now.
The General Assembly will have at least a pro forma floor session on Monday, but there are almost never hearings scheduled that day.
As far as "rallies" are concerned:
I'll be brutally honest here, from the MSRPA perspective:
- There is no space. Lawyers Mall is closed for the ongoing steam pipe project. Bladen street is closed in one direction for contractor parking/equipment storage related to the steam pipe project.
- The bill hearings are being staggered, likely coordinated on purpose to dilute our ability to be there. The D's know that most of our side of the fence work and won't or can't take off multiple days off to testify while the Bloomberg groups will astro-turf to get people there anytime, any way.
- It would be used as nothing more than a rallying cry for the D's - claiming either race issues or simply labeling us as extremists (heard in testimony on HB4) or terrorists (heard from one of the "Man Moms" in the hallway outside of House Judiciary while the "opposition" testified).
- I need people testifying and talking face to face with their Delegates and Senators / office staff of the same, not standing in the cold. Especially given the physical limitations present in Annapolis right now.
- I need to focus my completely voluntary time to preparing testimony for my organization to fight these bills.
- I realize there are others on these fora that want to use "Alinsky" tactics - that is their 1A-protected right, but I won't participate or condone such actions.
Would you care to give some guidance and tactics for doing this?
MSI is in complete accord with MSRPA on all of these points. Particularly important IMHO is having folks sit in the offices of their Delegates and Senators civilly requesting an opportunity to speak with them. If not Annapolis, then in the district offices over the weekend. That's effective in MD. Unless we turn out many thousands, standing in the cold is not.
Following up on my last question, would you care to give some guidance on this. I'm great sitting in front of a decision maker, one on one (or even one on ten) and making a case. However, you folks seem to know best how to get these meetings, agenda items to discuss and which actions to request or the goal of the meeting. As comfortable and good as I am in these situations, I would not want to do this without guidance first. You folks have obviously already gone through the trial and errors so how do you pass on this knowledge to those that want to help?